On the day following, the sun came out, and the weather moderated greatly. Henry now thought he must set off once more, fearing that some French troopers might appear at any moment. As best he could he thanked Madam Garrot for what she had done for him, and then trudged off.
The young soldier had in mind to move up the river bank a distance of several miles, and then cross the St. Lawrence on the ice. Once in English territory, he would strike out southward, trusting to luck to reach some settlement. He carried a small stock of provisions, and also a pistol and some powder, which he had begged of the old woman, who seemed, strangely enough, much interested in him.
Henry found walking through the snow as difficult as ever. But after trudging along for half a mile he reached a long stretch which the wind had swept clear, and which he covered with ease. He kept his eyes and ears on the alert, but neither French nor English soldiers appeared to challenge his progress.
That night found the young soldier a good many miles up the St. Lawrence, at a place which had in years gone by been a combined French and Indian settlement. Most of the buildings were burnt down, and the place was entirely abandoned. In searching around he found one part of a log cabin which could be used as a shelter, and into this he crawled, and built a small fire in the half-tumbled-down chimney-place.
“Not much of a tavern,” he thought grimly. “But I can be content if I fare no worse during this journey.”
His physical distress, even though great, was nothing compared to the trouble he suffered in his mind. He was branded as a thief, and even if he escaped to his home, how was he to clear his name, and how escape the military judgment meted out to him for the crime? Even if he was allowed to go free, folks would point the finger of scorn at him. And then his mother—he hardly dared to think of her.
“This news will almost kill her,” he said to himself. “She always expected so much of me!”
The next day he continued his journey up the river bank. He had now crossed a road where the tracks of several sleighs could be plainly seen, and was on his guard constantly.
It was almost nightfall when Henry reached a large barn located in the middle of a field which was deep with snow. A house had stood near by, but this had been burnt down by the Indians at the outbreak of the war. But some half-burnt sticks of timber were still visible, and some of these he gathered, and built himself a fire at which to thaw out his half-frozen limbs.
The fugitive was utterly worn out, and, having consumed the last of his scant stock of provisions, he wrapped himself up in some hay in the barn, and soon fell asleep.